Write a story in which a conversation takes place where the true subject is only implied.

Posted in Dialogue on Feb 16, 2024

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✍️ 40 stories

“Intertwined ” by Tee Farewell

Submitted to Contest #238

Sarah sat nervously on the edge of her seat, her fingers tracing anxious patterns on the lid of her untouched coffee. Despite her long-standing friendship with Jenna, she couldn't shake the nervous flutter in her stomach as she awaited her best friend's arrival. Weeks had passed since their last meeting, and Sarah couldn't help feeling that something had shifted between them. When Jenna finally entered, Sarah noticed her friend's distressed expression. Though Jenna tried to mask her emotions with a brave face, the glistening tears in her eye...

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“The Honeymoon's Not Over” by James Shortridge

Submitted to Contest #238

The bedroom door hinges squealed as a crack of light poured in from the outside hallway, casting a beam across the shape cocooned within the red blankets of the queen sized mattress. The figure enveloped within the blankets was long and slender; a close-trimmed head of brown hair and matching beard rested on the pillow, while a colorful sleeve of tattoos snaked around his left arm from wrist to shoulder. A black Labrador trotted inside first, the tags on his collar jingling and the pants of his breath ringing heavy in the silent room. ...

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“Rangefinder” by Rob Ryter

Submitted to Contest #238

Far within the dark panelled, richly furnished, insanely, recklessly safe lair of the Predator, the Client raised the lead crystal tumbler, luxuriating in its delicious heaviness, swirling the smoked amber nectar, inhaling the Islay malt’s rich, woody bouquet as the flickering flames from the hearth danced in its fiery depths. “Show me the tools of your trade,” she said. The Predator smiled. He had been anticipating this moment. He set down his own glass. The Client had probably guessed her host was drinking apple juice, or something equally...

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“A Voice from the Past” by Sara Potter

Submitted to Contest #238

Rick entered the restaurant quickly, shaking off his umbrella and raincoat in the entryway. What a miserable night. His eyes immediately went to the corner of the bar section where he and Samantha usually grabbed their monthly catchup drinks together. She was already there, with a tall lager in front of her while she stared off into space. Rick walked over to her unnoticed. “Sam! How long have you been here?” Sam jolted out of her trance and smiled at Rick. “Rick! I got here about 15 minutes ago. Thanks for meeting me! Come, sit down and w...

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“Firsts” by Wosh Uini

Submitted to Contest #238

I would be grateful for any feedback on my story or my writing. Anything that can help me get better as an author. This story contains implications of sensitive and potentially unsettling themes. “It was pouring that day. Like many other mornings, I woke up on a bench in Central Park. I was hungry and completely soaked. So, I decided to get some food from the shop across the street - ‘get’ meaning 'steal' of course. When I returned to the bench I had slept on, I saw a very intimidating figure standing next to it. He walked towards me ...

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“GO” by Faith Zappa

Submitted to Contest #238

They said I was chosen for a reason. That’s how they always said it. “Chosen” As if I were not only a prized possession, but the prized possession. That’s the thing about Frank and Janice Stanley, they sure knew how to make a girl feel special. They never said they adopted me, they always said they chose me. They both loved me, but I was Frank’s little girl. Everyone knew it. He had the best smell. He smelled like fresh cut grass and a cologne I never actually caught the name of. To me, that smell was the smell of home. We live...

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“The Taking of Deborah Warr” by Len Rely

Submitted to Contest #238

The two Debs shared the same first, middle and last names and were best friends even though DC was a responsible, caring parent and a career woman while “little” Debbie was as stout as a stump with a wild mess of dark hair. She liked her flipcakes done in the style of the teen show “8 Smiles” so that is how DC prepared them as she heard the sound of her daughter coming down the stairs and kissed her on the cheek before leaving for work in her Bundy Bella da Cossa convertible.She had only gone a block when she realized she had left something ...

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“The Midnight Oil” by Drew Harrison

Submitted to Contest #238

Ethan stood behind the bar, polishing a wine glass to a spotless sheen. The buzzing drone of the neon sign at the door, a sound ordinarily swallowed by the din of raucous conversation and laughter, carried tonight above the hushed murmurs of conversation and the sharp clank of mugs set to the table. Of the two billiards tables—ordinarily mobbed with tipsy players who leaned on pool cues for support—one sat empty, its balls neatly racked. Darts were arrayed in even rows beneath the dartboards; four patrons sat at the bar, spaced like men at u...

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“Stagnant Water…” by Walter Harris

Submitted to Contest #238

(Potential Sensitive Material - There is a conversation between naked woman and a single male in the story where a quick focus is pushed towards her breast.) Stagnant Water… I pushed through the darkened brush, trying my best not to think about the shadowed woods encasing my surroundings. The path ahead was narrow, the branches hanging out from either side like long fingers desperately trying to find a way to wrap around me. I could barely see ahead but that was fine. I knew where I was going. What seemed like eternity passed in ...

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“FInal Judgement” by Olive Helm

Submitted to Contest #238

“Did you see this?!” Manon slammed a leaflet onto the table before she sat down. “This wandought thinks he can do whatever he pleases.” The young woman sitting next to her gave the leaflet a quick, worried glance. “I understand that you’re mad, but he is still the king. If anyone hears us…” “No, Colette, she’s right!” The last fellow at the table had picked up the leaflet and just received the news written on it. “Someone should really just take his neck and crush it until all the air in it has left.” Colette sighed. “I understand what you ...

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Write a story in which a conversation takes place where the true subject is only implied.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 40 stories

“Intertwined ” by Tee Farewell

“The Honeymoon's Not Over” by James Shortridge

“Rangefinder” by Rob Ryter

“A Voice from the Past” by Sara Potter

“Firsts” by Wosh Uini

“GO” by Faith Zappa

“The Taking of Deborah Warr” by Len Rely

“The Midnight Oil” by Drew Harrison

“Stagnant Water…” by Walter Harris

“FInal Judgement” by Olive Helm

🌟 Similar prompts

Start or finish your story with a speaker unable to finish their sentence, perhaps overcome by emotion.

Write a story including the line “I can’t say it.”

Write a story in which an important message is cut off, leaving characters to wonder or puzzle out what was left unsaid.

Set your story at a silent retreat.

Contest #238

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

285

Contest entries

98

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: